Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

Everyday Awkward Situations We All Dread

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.

Everyday we battle through a world of awkward encounters. They happen to us all, short insignificant moments in our lives that cause such awkward tension. These everyday uncomfortable scenarios that we all dread include:

1. Seeing people out of context

Running into your professor at Wegmans or your dentist at Panera is always rattling.

2. Waving to somebody who wasn’t waving to you

3. Seeing somebody you know walking at you from far away

You both see each other from a distance. If you say hi when you first see each other you will then spend the next fifteen strides just avoiding eye contact and pretending to be busy as you approach each other. Or you rudely pretend you don’t see each other originally and admire the foliage until you are close enough to each other. Then you glance over and toss them a friendly greeting. Nobody wins in either scenario. It’s the worst.

4. The infamous hug/handshake confusion 

5. Uncomfortable scenes in movies you are watching with your parents

It happens so fast. You are just watching American Sniper with your dad and everything is fine. It’s a great, action/drama film and all of a sudden it gets graphic. In the worst way possible. You conveniently have to use the bathroom just as the tension in the room reaches an all time high and awkwardly hide until the sounds in the movie tell you it is safe to return.

6. Responding to a compliment

7. The half jog you do when someone holds the door for you

Even though if you are so far away for it to really be clear that you are heading for that door, people at BC will hold it for you. Next thing you know you are moving at a pace that can no longer be called walking but surely does not look like an athletic jog.

8. Trying to console someone who is crying

9. When people sing Happy Birthday at you

There’s almost nothing worse than the time that passes while your friends/family/classmates sing Happy Birthday to you. All eyes are on you and you are the only one who has nothing to do. All you can do is sit an smile and wait until it passes.

10. Accidentally liking a photo from 47 weeks ago

11. Nervously giggling because you can’t hear someone and you already said “what?” three times

Once you have hit your “what?” quota all you can do is laugh and nod with a blank stare on your face hoping that your response is somewhat appropriate.

12. Pulling on a push door

13. Rushing to put your change in your wallet while a line of people waits behind you

You can feel the stares of the people behind you as you drop three pennies and struggle to slide the five dollar bill into the slot in your wallet. It feels like you have been standing there for an hour now. You quickly just crumple the receipt and stuff it in your pocket and bring back your half jog and get out of the way.

14. Saying bye to someone then realizing you’re going in the same direction

Maybe if we could learn to embrace these awkward everyday encounters we are able to laugh at ourselves and enjoy these everyday awkward encounters. But for now…

Sources: 

http://metro.co.uk/2015/10/24/23-things-only-people-with-an-overly-expressive-face-will-understand-5460027/

https://media.giphy.com/media/AXozEkiE5p4EU/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/jOoxG4mWGuH9S/giphy.gif

https://boldomatic.com/view/post/5v18Xw

https://media.giphy.com/media/Cj3hvSCe8zRVS/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/2c85nqHAg7b4UjvMY/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/e0jaO1G1dd0A/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/4sn4lFufKgEIU/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/12E2Xmt6y73ClW/giphy.gif

Alana is a Senior at Boston College studying Math and Economics. She spent a semester studying in London and traveling throughout Europe. A movie, music, and milk chocolate enthusiast she spends her time quoting Leslie Knope, tagging her friends in puppy instagrams, and taking pictures of her food.
Blake is a senior at Boston College and is pursuing Biology and Pre-Med, as well as the perfect slice of pizza. She is so excited to be a co-Campus Correspondent along with Emily this year! As well as being a writer for Her Campus BC, she is also a member of the Girls Club Lacrosse team, the Public Health Club, and is a physics tutor on campus.